Photo Tips and Recommendations

Whether you're ordering holiday cards, save the dates, or thank you notes, your photo is the most important element of your photo stationery. To help us ensure the best print quality for your products, please follow these guidelines.

Keep it simple

Avoid using busy or complex photos. When taking your photos, try to find a neutral or solid-colored background that won't compete with the subject.

Complex Subject / Busy Background Not Recommended

Simple Subject Preferred

Pick the correct orientation

Some designs work better with horizontal photos and others work better with vertical photos. For best results, try to choose products with layouts that match the orientation of your pictures. Cropping tools are available in our stationery design tool, so it is possible to use any photo with any design, but you may find it easier to match your photo to a layout it fits naturally.

Mismatched Orientation Not Recommended

Matching Orientation Preferred

Save in high resolution

Resolution refers to the image quality of your picture. High resolution images will result in crisp, clean photo stationery. Low resolution images will appear fuzzy and pixelated. Check your digital camera to make sure that it is set to medium or high resolution.

Low Resolution - Pixelated Not Recommended

High Resolution Preferred

Use a high-contrast photo

Contrast refers to the difference between the lightest and darkest areas of a photo. Photos with low contrast, where most of the photo is either dark or light, tend to be less distinct and harder to see in the final print.

Low Contrast / Dark on Dark Not Recommended

High Contrast Image Preferred

Other photo stationery tips

Adjust your photo: We do not touch up photos, but you can make adjustments in our stationery design tool. You can convert a photo to black and white or sepia tones, rotate and resize the image, and adjust the placement of the image on your photo stationery.

Photo source: We cannot accept discs or physical photos. All photos need to be uploaded through our stationery design tool so you can control cropping, placement, and other aspects of your photo stationery.

Troubleshooting: If you have trouble uploading a photo, please try the following:

- Try a different file format. Photos can be JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or TIF.

- Try a different image size. Photos that are too small or too large may be rejected.

- Turn off your personal firewall or privacy software. These may prevent your web browser from displaying the product preview.